Button-down shirts are a basic, conservative wardrobe staple for both men and women. While at first glance they may look simple and boring, they are anything but. Button-down shirts can be styled in a variety of different ways, so don’t write them off just yet. With a little imagination, you can transform your simple button-down into a trendy, versatile piece.

Steps

Method1

Layering Your Button-Down Shirt

1

Layer your button-down under a sweater. This is the ultimate preppy combo, and it can take a sweater from informal to professional chic. Pull a patterned sweater over a solid color button-down shirt, or vice versa. Pull the collar out from the top. It looks extra polished if you cuff the sleeves so that the button-down shirt sleeves are showing.[1]

You can even do this same trick with a sweatshirt. Instantly dress up a university or sports sweatshirt by popping it over a collared, button-down shirt.

You can give this look a 90’s flair by layering a cropped sweater over a button-down shirt. Think Cher Horowitz in Clueless.[2]

2

Add a sweater vest. This might be the stereotypical look worn by nerds in the movies, it’s anything but unfashionable. Victoria Beckham, a fashion guru, has been seen in sweater vests several times. Ryan Reynolds has rocked a sweater vest on the red carpet. This is a classic look that instantly makes you look polished and ready for business.[3]

3

Wear it under a dress. When the weather starts getting colder and you’re ready to put your sleeveless dresses into storage, think again. Wearing a button-down shirt under your sleeveless dress can not only make it a bit more formal, but it can extend the amount of time you can wear it. Turn a summer dress into a fall (and maybe even winter) dress by wearing it over a long sleeved button-down shirt.[4]

Method2

Styling Your Shirt Creatively

1

Tie your button-down shirt around your waist. This might sound a bit strange, but it’s a trend that has exploded. You can instantly add a pop of color to a monochrome outfit just by adding a brightly colored or patterned button-down around your waist. If you’re wearing a dress or loose-fitting outfit, tying a shirt around your waist can even accentuate your waist, making a flattering silhouette.[5]

Plaid button-down shirts are especially perfect for this look. Tie them around your waist with a pair of jeans and a solid top, and you look comfortable and trendy at once.

2

Tuck in your shirt. Seriously, this can change your outfit. Men, you may already do this when you’re at a formal event, so you know that untucked versus tucked is a major outfit changer. For ladies, this can transform an outfit similarly. Try tucking your button-down shirt into a pair of high-waisted jeans or a skirt, and you’ll instantly make your outfit look sleek and put together.

3

Tie your shirt up. You probably immediately think of a cowgirl tying up her flannel shirt, but this certainly isn’t the only look you can achieve by tying up your button-down. Unbutton two or three buttons form the bottom, and tie the two ends into a little knot. Try doing this with high-waisted bottoms, so that you don’t necessarily show skin but create a “cropped” look.[6]

Try tying up a button-down shirt over a dress. It is still modest, yet adds a bit of fun to an otherwise simple outfit.

4

Wear it unbuttoned. Button-down shirts don’t always have to be the bottom layer of an outfit. Try unbuttoning it and wearing it open, like a jacket or cardigan. When you can wear it both buttoned and unbuttoned, you have a whole new set of outfits you can create with the same shirt. This look works particularly well with thicker button-downs, like chambray shirts. [7]

5

Wear it as a dress. Why purchase a “shirt dress” when you can just make one? Throw on an oversized button-down shirt as a dress for a super easy and trendy look. To avoid looking shapeless, you can add a belt or something else to cinch in the waist, creating a shape. You can cuff the sleeves so they aren’t too long, and voila!

Method3

Accessorizing with Your Shirt

1

Pair it with sneakers. While the button-down shirt alone screams polished and professional, the sneakers take it down a notch. You can take your shirt from work to weekend by pairing it some Converse or other casual sneakers. To complete the look, throw on a baseball cap. The shirt makes you look put together, while the sneakers and cap show you’re ready to relax.[8]

2

Match your shirt with a tie. While ties will naturally make the look a bit more formal, you can find more casual ties. Patterned ties look great with solid colored button-down shirts, and they are perfect for more casual settings. Even if no one else is wearing a tie, casual ties look like you put in the extra effort. They can add a lot to an otherwise simple look.[9]

3

Add a bold statement necklace. Most people leave a few buttons undone at the top of their shirt, letting it expose a bit of skin near the neck. Instead, try buttoning up your shirt to the very top button, and then placing a big, eye-catching necklace around the collar. This is looks extremely chic, and can make any button-down shirt immediately look stylish.[10]